There's growing concern about dwindling options for Madison's homeless community to find shelter during the day.

Advocates for the homeless said something needs to change, especially as temperatures drop.

Jennifer Gosling and Linda Turner, who are homeless, said their options to keep warm during the day have gone to virtually zero.

"Today it was really cold, and we couldn't go into any place on State Street," Gosling said. "We went to the library for about a half hour. If they're going to close, there's really no place for us to go."

Turner said the Central Library is where she normally goes, and she has concerns about what's going to happen after Nov. 11, when the building is slated to close for its overhaul.

The library has gotten to be more of a popular place, because of the past restricted access to the state Capitol building. Many homeless people used the basement cafeteria in the state Capitol as a place to stay warm during the day. But during the Capitol protests earlier this year and the restricted access, they were forced to find another spot.

Karen Potnek, housing coordinator for the Salvation Army of Dane County, said having daytime options for the homeless is very important, especially now.

"We're not a day shelter, and they're so few and far between," Potnek said. "And that's why people go to the library and not to other shelters, because we don't have them available."

While daytime shelter is a concern, there's also concern at the City-County Building, where many stay during the day, and also at night, when shelters are full. The Salvation Army said some doors to the City-County Building have remained unlocked during non-business hours, but the county will start locking most of those doors. The county is also installing additional security equipment to discourage people from spending the night or loitering.

"They're trying to get rid of the riffraff," Potnek said. "But they're not riffraff; they're people. And honestly, I think it's just a select few that don't like having them there."

Potnek said there's no quick fix to this problem, and some of it is unavoidable, like the Central Library closing.

Potnek said she hopes for more acceptance of this problem and that the homeless will be able to find more options this winter, before the weather gets too cold.